|
|
Latest Rumors & Developments:
|
|
|
Updates have been so frequent, that all subsequent updates can be now found in our Back Talk section.
|
|
6 June 1999
|
Here's the latest news from our Hollywood insider! [slipped under the door by 'anonymous']
It's high time to write you, in light of a couple new developments in terms of the BTTF universe:
- Ed Solomon turned in his treatments quicker than most people (including myself, I have to admit) imagined. The due date was June 15, but he turned them in around Memorial Day. They're still being reviewed by the script department.
- Some good news for the BTTF 4/5 project, though: the Quantum Leap project has fizzled out (it was something called Quantum Leapers and didn't involve Scott Bakula at all), with Magnum, P.I. on the outs, too. Seeing as this is the only Amblin-oriented project (BTTF), ie: I know about it, I can tell you that people are getting excited about the prospect of BTTF again.
- A new writer has been attached to the project — a man by the name of Charles S. Haas. I haven't looked into his credentials yet, but word came down last week that Mr. Haas would be handling the further development of BTTF4 and BTTF5, whatever it might be.
Thought you'd be interested.
|
|
15 May 1999
|
Things are really heating up in the BTTF franchise these days! Here's an email we got today from an anonymous scooper who works with one of the companies responsible for the pre-development of this sequel. And alas! They've pointed out that there are plans for two sequels, not just one! [details provided by 'anonymous']
Before I begin, I'd like to say what an impressive amount of time and effort you've devoted to your site. This is, quite possibly, one of the most professional non-professional sites ever created for an entertainment franchise.
I hesitate writing to you, but I need to clarify certain aspects of your previous posts for BTTF 4.
The facts:
- I understand the anxiety of not knowing anything about a film project. The Total Film bit was erroneous in its claim that Ed Solomon is working on a BTTF project involving Roswell 1947. Its inclusion of Sarah Michelle Gellar should also tip you off to its questionable character. However, it's not all wrong. Yes, Mr. Solomon is hard at work on feature film treatments for Amblin Entertainment and Universal. Basically, he's been commissioned (not contracted) to show the viability of expanding the Back to the Future franchise. There are several other writers doing the same thing for other Universal-governed franchises. It's part of an in-house development project that's been going on since November of 1998 (e.g. Quantum Leap).
- These are treatments, not scripts. This means that the project that Mr. Solomon is developing presages the pre-production process. I want you to understand that. Just because there are BTTF projects in consideration, I don't want to give you the impression that they're in active development. Currently, the idea is to have a Back to the Future 4 and Back to the Future 5.
- As for casting, Gellar's name was thrown out by an excited fan, no doubt. Characters, settings, etc. are so malleable at this point, casting is actually laughable. In fairness, Mr. Solomon is only including the characters of Doc Brown and Clara from Back to the Future III in his treatments. The other characters are unknown to anyone but Mr. Solomon, to be honest.
- The deadline for his treatments is June 14, 1999.
- There was never a Back to the Beginning script. That script was another fan's idea and is in no way related to Amblin. The only BTTF-related scripts officially owned by Amblin Entertainment are the three feature films and the animated episodes. And judging from the synopsis given, I don't think Amblin would have shelled out the bucks for an 11-year-old Marty McFly and a homeless woman. No hook, no sci-fi twist.
- Best case scenario: the films premiere in the second quarter and fourth quarters of 2001. This isn't far off base, but you have to understand something: whatever the Universal Powers-That-Be deem the most viable project (which could be Magnum, P.I. or Quantum Leap), that project will be placed on the fast track. Most likely, the other projects will dissapate. This could very well be the future for BTTF4 and BTTF5. Who knows?
- There's another writer lined up to work on BTTF4/5, but I don't know his/her name, nor his/her capacity on the project. To be honest, Ed Solomon was working on this project as sort of a "side job." It's not an official project, you understand. That's why — as you well know — things are very nebulous and facts are hard to find in the realm of BTTF. Men in Black (keeping in Ed Solomon territory) had seven writers before him working on treatments, but you'll never, ever hear who they were. Some surprising names.
All I can tell you is that Universal — thanks in large part to your site, to be honest — is looking into bringing the BTTF universe back to the screen. Waiting for films is frustrating. There are so many great films in the pipeline that never make it through, if you ask me. Star Wars might be vying for the all-time highest anticipation rate, but folks like you bolster enthusiasm for my job.
I have no information regarding the involvement of Mr. Zemeckis, Mr. Gale, nor Mr. Spielberg. Right now, these are all the facts. I don't think we'll know anything new until late June, early July.
Keep up the excellent, excellent work. It's simply a superb site.
|
|
|
|
12 May 1999
|
Just got this reply from the Editor of Total Film magazine in response to our request for more information on their printed rumor: [information provided by 'Emma Cochrane']
"This rumour comes from our script doctors; these are two people based in the UK who regularly read all the scripts doing the rounds and write reports on how they can be improved. (For instance, they've recently read 3 different versions of the next Indiana Jones sequel — one which is a prequel and one which involves aliens)
They have read this treatment of the script, by Ed Solomon, and the details are as appeared in the article. The script is yet to be completed, but approaches are being made to the stars for them to return. A 'Sarah Michelle Gellar' type has been mentioned for the lead, whether they
get the lady herself depends on her Buffy shedule and other projects. Whether the project gets the go-ahead or not will depend upon script approval."
|
|
3 May 1999
|
Whoa! The latest issue of Total Film magazine (Issue #29, page 41) published the following details on the next chapter of the BTTF saga: [reported by U.K. scooper 'Sam']
Fancy going back to Back To The Future... again? Well, Amblin Entertainment and Universal Pictures are rumored to be considering a revival of their time-travel franchise. Men In Black scribe Ed Solomon is reportedly working on a script dealing with Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown causing the Roswell UFO crash and how he sets it straight, with the assistance of would-be scientist Sarah Michelle Gellar. Steven Spielberg and Solomon would act as executive producers while Michael J. Fox may cameo as another ancestor of Marty McFly.
|
|
23 Feb 1999
|
Tonight, ABC airs Back to the Future IV - Judgement Day... the reunion episode of 'Spin City' for Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. Could be the closest we get to a sequel anytime soon.
|
|
4 Dec 1998
|
Here's an encouraging message from a VP at Universal who responded to an e-mail we sent last week in support of this long-awaited sequel:
"Thank you for your recent e-mail expressing interest in a BACK TO THE FUTURE sequel. We all appreciate your support and insight.
We certainly do not underestimate the appeal and popularity of this terrific franchise and we will keep your research in mind as we formulate our development and release slates.
In the meantime, many thanks once again for your continued support and feedback and, as your e-mail mentioned, we hope that everyone at your website enjoys our upcoming release of PATCH ADAMS, starring Robin Williams, as well as Gus Van Sant's PSYCHO, which opens today."
Sincerely,
Romy Kaufman
V.P., Story
With the recent corporate shakeup at Universal, could it be that they're finally open to suggestions from fans?!!! The 'research' referred to concerns the chart below, which we sent as an attachment to the message:
|
|
21 Oct 1998
|
Here's another report from the U.K. that ILM apparently has something in the works:
"I have some info from the U.K. you may find interesting, or possibly already know. I met a couple of old friends a few weeks ago, who at that point in time were working on re-shoots for the new Star Wars prequel. They mentioned that the studio (Leavesden, I believe) was in the process of being stripped down to film another prequel/sequel of a "major hollywood film". They did not have a clue as to what film, as it was kept under wraps up until that time. But they started to see a build-up of other props etc., one of which was a DeLorean. Now, I thought this to be bull----, as they knew how big a big fan of the film I was, but they assured me they were telling the truth (which now is supported by your picture). They tried to find out more info about a possible "Part IV", but their inquiries were neither denied nor confirmed. They did hear rumors that new footage for a new BTTF Ride was being shot, and that the Studio did have a great deal of storage space for "old" Spielberg/Lucas productions."
"Anyway, by chance another very close friend/reliable source/film nut was visiting Universal Florida a few weeks back. He got to the park at opening and headed straight for the BTTF Ride (naturally!). There at the front were a laod of "executive" types waiting for the first ride of the day. One thing led to another and they got talking, went on the ride, etc. and it was confirmed to him that a new BTTF film was in pre-production, although they could not give more details as they didn't know what direction the film was going to take - i.e. cast and crew, etc." [scooped by 'Anthony']
With the recent Special Edition & DVD announcements, could it be possible that Universal is finally reviving the BTTF franchise for theaters as well?!! As we're quite aware of, only time will tell! It is no secret that a third BTTF Ride will appear at the upcoming Universal Studios Japan park in 2001, but if new footage is being shot for that, it's news to us.
|
|
28 Sep 1998
|
The following scoop appeared today on Coming Attractions' BTTF4 page:
"Universal is dredging up its archives to produce in-house films based on properties it already owns. While it's been rumored BTTF would be revived in some manner for a long time, there looks to be a full-scale effort in the works to tie some project directly to its BTTF franchise. The "Back to the Beginning" telefilm that was never produced was an IDEA of Bob Gale's, but was never officially commissioned nor really considered. Any live-action BTTF property would enter production at the feature film level. Universal Television never had a BTTF project in the pipeline. Whatever the case, there are discussions to involve Michael J. Fox's character as a sort of bookend to a new story. Using Doc Brown's time travel technology, a couple of teenagers are sent through a series of different eras." [scooped anonymously, originally appeared at Coming Attractions]
Folks, this could be the big break we've been searching for! It appears that the scooper works in the industry, possibly even for Universal, so hopefully this is not a cruel hoax. Perhaps our hard work and persistant dedication is finally paying off!
|
|
2 Sep 1998
|
At last! Our U.K. scooper was finally able to track down his friend who worked as a carpentar on the sets of the new upcoming Star Wars prequel at Leavesden Studios. He was able to get us a scan of the photo that clearly shows a DeLorean time machine hull in the background. Our scooper only has a black & white scanner, but the original photo he has is a color Polaroid. While we're waiting for a color print to arrive from the U.K., we didn't want to delay this photo any longer, so here it is in all its glory! As one can see in the larger photo, the DeLorean hull is detailed for a time machine. The outter coils, exhaust vents, and even Mr. Fusion can be faintly seen.
Now the big question -- what's this thing doing over in England?! And why is it on the studio lot in 1997?! Is there something going on with the series? Since we do not know, all we can do is rule out what the car isn't, hopefully being able by process of elimination to figure out what the car is for.
- The car is clearly NOT a DeLorean used for ...The Ride, as those cars are not full sized, nor are they one piece like this car is (they separate, and only the front half of the car rises up into the Omnimax dome while the second part is stationary, housing the car's hydraulics). There were no full-sized models made for ...The Ride's film, as all the cars used in the film were minatures. Besides, to our knowledge, ILM had no involvement in the production of ...The Ride.
- The car clearly is NOT a real DeLorean, as the ones driven throughout the series are real DeLorean automobiles that had additional parts added to them for the time machine appearance. This car has nothing on the inside, no chasis, no wheels. But it does have the exterior accessories for the time machine. Given the upfront knowledge that is was a fibreglass hull, obviously it is a full-scale model.
- 1990 was the last year any known work on the BTTF series was provided by ILM, and why a DeLorean hull would be around in 1997, in England nonetheless, is quite puzzling. If the photo had been taken out at Skywalker Ranch, there would really not be a big surprise here, as Lucasfilm does keep a lot of their creations around years later. But to our knowledge, Leavesden was not around during the time the BTTF films were made, so no work was done there on the films. Now if the car had been made during the 1989-1990 production on the sequels, one wonders why it was transported to England.
- Remember, our scooper tells us in his May 26 scoop that his friend saw three (3) DeLoreans there, not just the one in the photo.
At this point, we can only assume that these cars are (a.) from a previous BTTF project years ago, or are (b.) part of an unknown BTTF project still under wraps. Certainly, we hope that it is the latter, and that we're seeing some early production material for a future film or other large-scale continuation project. As this news unfolds, we'll bring you up to date quicker than you can say '1.21 jigowatts'. [photo provided by 'Kevlaw']
|
|
29 Aug 1998
|
"When the DeLorean Motor Comapany first started making cars, they gave some cars to the department of transportation so that they could be tested to see if they met safety standards. Since the cars were going to be crashed, they were kept very basic with limited interiors and no stainless steel panels. This would leave the black fiber glass under-body showing. How George Lucas got these, I couldn't say, but the DeLorean Motor Company was based in Dunmury, Ireland, and a leftover crash test DeLorean could have made its way over to London. Maybe the owner got a good deal on all three because they were 'very basic'." [handed in by 'REM']
While this is not really a scoop on the film, it could be a possibility of the nature of the cars. But remember, our original scooper says these were time machine mockups, not just plain-jane DeLoreans.
|
|
10 Aug 1998
|
"I reached [an ILM model maker] again, and asked if he knows anything about a new Back to the Future film. He says that last year in some meeting with the entire ILM crew who worked on the BTTF Trilogy, they seriously talked about making models for another Back to the Future film. He said he couldn't share any more information than that, but he did mention something in a previous conversation about sketches that already exist of new gadgets that the main characters are supposed to use. I guess this is a peep of new light signaling that a new BTTF film is on the way." [scooped by 'GullwingD']
This sheds a bit more light on the May 26 scoop. But we're still a bit skeptical about this whole deal of DeLoreans & storyboards existing at ILM without a greenlight from Universal on a new film. But stranger things have occured!
|
|
13 Jul 1998
|
A very interesting BTTF4 blurb appeared today on the The Hollywood Stock Exchange website. This site, which appears to be a place to "purchase" fictional stock in particular films and stars, only lists real films on its site that are really in the planning stages, in development or in production. Out of some 42 sequels listed, the other 41 sequels listed are all films that are seriously planned by their respective studios for release within the next three years. We've not heard anything official from Universal, but we can only safely assume that HSX is getting their production information from a higher source than us:
"Back to the Future 4" (BACK4). Have there really been three of these? Oh yeah, they filmed two and three at the same time. If they are thinking about doing that again for four, five and six, why not just fess up that they are shooting a TV series and leave those screens open for good stuff, like, "Die Hard 4: Tears of the Sun" (DIE4). [scooped by 'Mr.XL']
It doesn't seem that Max Broker is a very big fan, does it? But his fellow columnist Mac Daddy sure seems to be:
Pure Concept:
- "Back to the Future 4" (BACK4) - I would absolutely love to see this one made, but at the moment, it doesn't look likely, Michael J. Fox says he's too old to reprise his role.
|
|
26 May 1998
|
"I have a friend who was working as a carpenter last year on early set building for the new Star Wars prequels at the Leavesden Studios in England, and he told me he saw three complete DeLoreans in storage there. He INSISTS they were fibre glass, full-size models with only limited interiors. One was painted up in Jungle camoflage.
I suggested he may have been mistaken and they were Star Wars vehicles, but he again insisted they were not." [scooped by 'Kevlaw']
This one's quite interesting, to say the least. We can't figure out what George Lucas would be doing with three full-scale model DeLorean time machines, especially considering that they were seen at the Leavesden Studios in England. Perhaps Marty McFly's "Darth Vader" impersonation somehow gets worked in to the prequels...
|
|
11 May 1998
|
From Blockbuster Video's magazine The Scene, May 1998, page 6:
SEQUEL-MANIA
"Are there any new ideas in Hollywood? With sequels such as: Alien 5, Back to the Future 4, Bad Boys 2, Blade Runner 2, Die Hard 4, Jaws 5, Predator 3, Ghostbusters 3 and 4, Independance Day 2, Roger Rabbit 2, The Nutty Professor 2, and Scream 3 all in the planning/production stage, it seems that the answer is a resounding 'no'." [article submitted by "FiloFox"]
|
|
11 Mar 1998
|
"I've been told that there's also some pictures done for promotion that were never used for Back to The Beginning -- along with sketches of the Time Machine for Back to the Future before it was a DeLorean -- i.e. a freezer (which was dumped because they didn't want kids climbing inside abandoned iceboxes). There's also some promotional pictures which featured other actors that were up for the part of Marty before Michael J. Fox." [the infamous anonymous scooper strikes again]
Yeah, we're plenty aware of photographs of Eric Stoltz as "Marty McFly", but we're doubtful that drawings of the infamous refridgerator time machine really exist, especially since the idea was only in script form in the early drafts in 1980-81. The movie wasn't greenlighted until 1984, and by then, the DeLorean had entered the third draft of the script, from which the production sketches of the time machine were produced. During the mid '80s, it was highly unusual for pre-production materials such as concept drawings to take place before a film had been given the green light, although it seems to be much more common today in the '90s.
|
|
29 Dec 1997
|
From Blockbuster Video Magazine, January 1992, page 20:
"The original, plus the two sequels, have proved so durable in video rental stores that talk of an ongoing Back to the Future saga persists in Hollywood circles." [article submitted by "Future 1985"]
|
|
24 Sep 1997
|
"I've worked for DreamWorks as a writer for the past three years since they started, so I've had access to the Amblin vault room. It's cooler than it sounds: it's actually a copy room with cabinets full of scripts. I was in there one day talking to another writer about a project DreamWorks has on the way called Deep Impact, and he was telling me about how they wanted to change the name, etc. He said, "We have a whole room full of great scripts, and we're doing s— like this". He opened the cabinets, and we went through a s—load of material. (We're not supposed to, but it was fun.) We came across the Back to the Beginning script, and both of us being huge BTTF fans, we took it and read it back at our office."
"We didn't finish it because we got nervous and knew we had to get it back before the end of the day. Those files are checked once in a while. Believe it or not, Amblin and other studios have bought the same script more than once! It's rare, but it happens. There's a group of people with calculators and notepads that update lists of what we have in stock. Another script in there was Indiana Jones and the Space Men From Mars -- no kidding! We never got a chance to look at that one."
"Anyway, about the BTTB script -- the name page was missing, along with the first three pages of the script. It looked a little roughed up, so I have no idea who wrote it. It did have Walter Parkes' office stamp on it, so it was in the "possibility" stack at one time. It also had the little Amblin TV logo with E.T. on the bike on the back, which means it was floating around that department and was close to being made (I don't know why they didn't)."
"From what I read, the script takes place during Christmas. The early part of the story focused mainly on how Marty was a little different than the other kids, and how he liked strange people for strange reasons. I know Marty befriends a homeless lady in the script, bringing her some of his lunch on the way home from school and stuff. My friend (the other writer) read the whole thing, and told me later the old women dies. At some point in the story, Marty is crying about it to Doc, and he says something to the effect of, `You're smart — can't you bring her back?'. Doc tells him, `No, she's gone'. Marty then says, `I wish I could go back and do things differently'. This may have been a lead into why Doc decides on building the time machine. Like I said, I personally didn't read all of it." [additional details by same anonymous scooper]
We know for a fact through the office of Bob Gale (BTTF screenwriter/producer) that there were some very serious talks about doing a fourth movie or some other type of similar continuation with the BTTF series in 1993. Universal Pictures was in dire need of some hit movies during that time, as they were in the middle of a drout. Back to the Future™...The Ride was getting ready to open at Universal Studios Hollywood, and so Universal was giving the series some serious consideration for a reprisal just three years after they ended it. But two key factors killed the talks at that time: Jurassic Park opened in theaters and rocked Universal's foundation, and CBS cancelled the Back to the Future cartoon series after two seasons of low ratings. These talks at Universal were being held sometime around May 1993.
In 1995, we had a phone conversation with Alan Sutton in Universal's Marketing Dept. (now a Senior VP of Marketing for Universal), who told us then that two years prior to our conversation, there had been serious plans to turn BTTF into a weekly television series, but that the idea had been put on indefinite hold for reasons unbeknownst to him. That conversation validated the information we had been given by an assistant in Bob Gale's office in 1993. When the above posting arrived, it immediately sparked the recollection of past conversations we've had on the subject with people who would know this kind of information first-hand. Anyway, the posting from the source who wished to remain anonymous even further validates that there is a project at Universal/Amblin that is in development limbo.
This story completely jives with our prior knowledge on the project, and the thing about Walter Parkes checks out too. At this point, we don't know where the project stands, as we cannot seem to find anyone else who knows anything about the project. It is obviously something that is still a possibility for DreamWorks/Universal since it remains in Amblin's possession. One of our members met Bob Gale at an autograph session in Santa Barbara on September 27, 1997, just three days after this scoop broke, and queried him on the script. Gale claimed to have never heard of said script to Back to the Beginning.
|
|
19 Sep 1997
|
"There was a script that was planned as a TV-movie about four years ago called Back to the Beginning. I saw the script at Amblin about a year ago and looked through it. It was going to be about when Doc and Marty first met and became friends. All the kids (around 9 to 11 years-old) in town used to make fun of Doc, and wrap his house and stuff. Then one kid came to his aid - Marty (11 years-old). I didn't read the whole thing but from what I did it sounded like a pretty good TV movie. They never made it though." [scooped anonymously]
|
|
Got News '4' Us?
|
Have you got a scoop for us? Have you heard a rumor from a reliable source? Have you read something mentioned about the film in print somewhere? Do you know something we don't? Email us! Please send all BTTF4 correspondence to us at bttf4@bttf.com.
For additional information Hollywood reports concerning Back to the Future 4, please visit Corona Productions' Coming Attractions BTTF4 page at http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/backtothefuture4.html.
What Can You Do?
Will Back to the Future™ Part IV ever happen? That all depends on you! With fourth chapters to Alien and Batman having been released in 1997, Lethal Weapon in 1998, and additional quattros in the works by the studios who own the Die Hard, Highlander, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan, Mad Max, and Star Wars franchises, another Back to the Future™ movie is imperative! You can help make it happen by sending your support in writing to ALL of the following personnel at the responsible studios:
BACK TO THE FUTURE™ PART IV
c/o Edgar M. Bronfman Jr., President/CEO
Universal Studios, Inc./Seagram Co.
100 Universal Plaza, LRW Building/14th Floor
Universal City, CA 91608
BACK TO THE FUTURE™ PART IV
c/o Ron Meyer, President/COO
Universal Studios, Inc.
100 Universal Plaza, LRW Building/14th Floor
Universal City, CA 91608
BACK TO THE FUTURE™ PART IV
c/o Steven Spielberg, Partner
Amblin Entertainment / DreamWorks SKG
100 Universal Plaza, #477
Universal City, CA 91608
BACK TO THE FUTURE™ PART IV
c/o Walter Parkes, Theatrical Development/Production
Amblin Entertainment / DreamWorks SKG
100 Universal Plaza, #477
Universal City, CA 91608
BACK TO THE FUTURE™ PART IV
c/o Laurie MacDonald, Theatrical Development/Production
Amblin Entertainment / DreamWorks SKG
100 Universal Plaza, #477
Universal City, CA 91608
What Do the Celebrities Think?
You may think that no one from the series wants to do another film, but that's not the case! Here's a complete timeline of cast & crew quotes about doing a fourth film, which has changed drastically as time has gone by:
"...I could slip into Future IV as easily as I can snap my fingers."
-- Michael J. Fox ("Marty McFly")
Prevue, September 1990
"We don't have any plans for a Part IV. That's not to say that there will never be one, but at the moment we don't have plans for it and we're not thinking about doing one."
-- Bob Gale (Screenwriter/Producer)
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1992
"I don't think so. Honestly, I think the Back to the Future movies are great. I'm very proud of them. I'm proud of my work in them and I am happy that everyone has enjoyed them so much. But I think that they should stay the way they are, and I think that most of the cast and production staff feel the way that I do."
-- Tom Wilson ("Biff Tannen")
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1993
"I just loved Doc Brown. He was a whole visionary character that I really got off on. I haven't been approached about doing a fourth Future film, but if they ever did, I would be happy to do it."
-- Christopher Lloyd ("Doc Brown")
STARLOG, August 1993
"I doubt seriously that they'll do a number four, but who knows? It's actually highly doubtful. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I think they but it to bed safe and sound at the end of Part III."
-- Jeffrey Weissman ("George McFly" in the sequels)
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1993
"I don't know what Part IV would be about. We just don't have any plans right now. We don't know what it would be about, and we're not actively thinking about it right now."
-- Bob Gale (Screenwriter/Producer)
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1995
"Well, it depends. In other words, if Bob Zemeckis was going to direct it and Bob Gale was going to write the script and produce it, sure. But if it was going to be done by other people, I don't think I would do that. I really haven't thought a lot about that. I suppose it would be fun. You want to have Michael play the part, but he can't play Marty McFly as a teenager anymore. Maybe continue the story with what happens to him. We kind of got in to that a little bit in Part II when they went to the future and got to see that he turned out to be a kind of a loser. Maybe if there was something clever, and if everybody wanted to do it, I would be happy to do it. But if it was just done and there were all new creative people involved in the making of it, I wouldn't be interested in that."
-- Neil Canton (Co-Producer)
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1995
"If everyone was involved, yeah, I suppose so. But I don't think that'll happen -- the third one almost killed Bob Zemeckis!"
-- Lea Thompson ("Lorraine Baines McFly")
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1995
"I'd be there in a minute -- in a New York second!!"
-- Billy Zane ("Match")
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1995
"Oh yeah, definitely! Like I say, the films to me have always been one of the classic examples of great entertaining film making. That's always been one of the high points of my professional career. So I would certainly love to be involved in another one. I've never had a bad experience on any of the Back to the Future films, and I don't think any of the fans have either."
-- Dean Cundey (Director of Photography)
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1996
"The bottom line of this whole thing is, if Bob Zemeckis called me tomorrow and said, "I want to do this thing", I'd start packing. Absolutely! I think the thing is, it's not for me or anybody else, but Bob & Bob to make that move. I couldn't tell you a reasonable premise or pretense for it happening. And it's not even a choice of playing my own age -- I just flat out can't do a lot of that stuff any more! But if Bob got a brain tweak in the middle of the night and it somehow made sense to him, I'd certainly sit down and talk to him about it -- if for no other reason than to see all those folks again. My son and I read a lot of Arthurian stuff, and I've always been a big Tolkien fan. So much exists that didn't exist before we did those shows. I bet a lot of your members are into The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and The History Channel -- I live on that stuff! I spent three hours the other night watching Tolkien and the Knights in Armor on the History Channel. I mean, I just eat that crap up! So that would be fun. I'd like to see Marty & Doc go back and meet some of those characters. Doc and Merlin are just a great combination -- exchanging notes with each other -- and then Marty and young Arthur."
-- Michael J. Fox ("Marty McFly")
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1996
"If the phone rang and everyone was getting together, I would do it in a minute. I can't imagine the phone would ring in that context. I don't think Robert Zemeckis is interested in doing it and I don't really know what they would do. We're all older and Marty is 35 years old! I'm almost at the age I was pretending to be in Part II."
-- Michael J. Fox ("Marty McFly")
STARLOG, January 1997
"Oh, yes! Extremely! I would love to do that again, absolutely!"
-- Claudia Wells ("Jennifer Parker" in the original film)
Hill Valley Telegraph, 1998 (not yet published)
What About Continuality?
Back to the Future™ is not a simple film series. Hailed as "The Smartest Film Series of the '80s", there is not another film series in any decade that is as intelligent, logically correct and entertaining as Back to the Future™ is. There are so many little intricate details throughout the entire series, that anyone could get them all mixed up! The flow of events and circumstances fit together like a jigzaw puzzle, but hey, this ain't no kid's toy!!
After you've written the studios, and Back to the Future™ Part IV does finally get made, there's a lot of details throughout the series that must be recognized and not overlooked for consistency in the storyline. There are items from different time periods scattered all throughout the space-time continuum. It seems as if something was left behind that shouldn't have been on every time trip. If Universal Studios plans on making a Back to the Future™ Part IV, there are a lot of intricate details created in Back to the Future™...The Ride that they should be mindful of and take into consideration when producing a fourth chapter. Since this series is very consistent in retaining the details revealed in earlier installments, those formulated in Back to the Future™...The Ride simply cannot be neglected. Here's what has been established since the last movie (some of these will be common knowledge to all fans, and some will likely provoke some interesting feedback):
- Twin Pines Mall is now named Lone Pine Mall. When Marty ran down one of Old Man Peabody's pine trees, the name of the mall was changed.
- George and Lorraine are now successful and healthy. After Marty's intervention with them in 1955, Marty influenced George enough to write a book. George is alive and well, as his death in the alternate 1985 is reversed.
- Marty owns the Toyota 4x4 pickup truck he saw in the beginning of Back to the Future™.
- Jennifer now knows about Marty and Doc's time travels by realizing it wasn't all just a dream. Her older self in 2015 will now know this bit of information.
- We don't know if Doc's JVC video camera and VHS tape remained at 1955 Doc's lab or not. We never see Marty bring it back with him to 1985 in Part I. Doc's metal suitcase with the hairdryer was more than likely put back into the DeLorean and returned to 1985 with Marty. Then Doc took the suitcase with him to 2015.
- Marty's jean jacket from Back to the Future™ somehow ends up in the "Blast From The Past" Antiques Store in Back to the Future™ Part II. It is in the same nice condition it was in when Marty last wore it in Back to the Future™.
- The accident with the Rolls Royce doesn't occur, so Marty may have never given up his career in Rock 'N Roll.
- Doc's tombstone is no longer in the cemetery beside the Delgado mine shaft, as Doc doesn't die on September 7, 1885.
- Clayton Ravine is now called Eastwood Ravine.
- The top of Old Biff's cane, the "Blast From The Past" bag with receipt, and the blank "You're Fired!!!" Cusco FAX all remain in 1985 after being brought back from 2015 in Back to the Future™ Part II.
- We don't know what happened to Doc's binoculars, sleep-enducing alpha rhythm generator, first set of clothes and glasses, or the suitcase full of money. Everything except the money was probably left in 2015 since we do not ever see them again. But since the suitcase contained bills from the 1800's (1861, 1863, 1864, and 1875), we can safely assume from this foreshadowing that Doc carried this case with him to the old west.
- The photo of Doc standing in front of the clock in 1885 now exists twice in 1985, one version with Marty and the other version without. Marty took the first version with him from 1955 to 1885, and then brought it back with him to 1985. Marty has both versions of the same exact photo in his hand when the train flies off into the sky at the end of Back to the Future™ Part III. It is interesting that the photo is shown in the same shot, but that we never see multiple versions of the DeLorean in the same shot in 1955 when it occupies four different places at the same time. Marty doesn't seem to realize that he holds a paradox between his fingers!
- The hoverboard remained in 1885 with Doc and Clara. Marty did not bring it back with him to 1985. If we see it again, it would have been brought back by Doc when he and his family comes back to live in the present time. The manifold off of the DeLorean also remained behind.
- One of the walkie-talkies remained in 1885 with Doc at the end of Back to the Future™ Part III, and the other one stayed with Marty when he went back to 1985. When Doc was zapped from 1955 to 1885, he took one with him then. 1955 Doc put fresh batteries in Marty's walkie-talkies, but somehow Marty ended up with two of them in 1955, as it appears that Doc places two units into the DeLorean. The only possible solution to this little mystery is that Doc left his walkie-talkie in the DeLorean when he buried it in the Delgado mine. Marty and Doc found it inside the DeLorean in 1955, Doc replaced its batteries, then Marty took them both to 1885.
- Doc's train shirt and khaki pants from 2015 remained in 1885 with Doc as did the May 23, 1983 newspaper that headlined "EMMETT BROWN COMMENDED" when he was accidentally zapped back to 1885.
- Marty's clothes from 1985 (red t-shirt and blue jeans) were taken with him to 1885. His Nikes from 1985 were left in 1885, as well as his western clothes from 1955, but the western clothes from 1885 were worn back to 1985. His shirt and suspenders that he wore to 2015 were put into the Nike gym bag canister. They must have been left in the DeLorean and sent back to 1885 with Doc.
- From the events in Back to the Future™...The Ride, Biff from 1955 now knows that Doc invented time travel. Biff stows away sometime late in 1955, undetected by the time travel team that went to 1955, and travels to present day in a time travel vehicle taken to 1955 by the team. At the Institute Of Future Technology, he steals the DeLorean and flees forward in time to October 25, 2015 and then back to the Ice Age in the wake of the dinosaur era. His knowledge of this fact will trickle down through the years, meaning he will learn of Doc's invention long before October 21, 2015. Whether or not Biff's death on October 21, 2015 is reversed at the end of Back to the Future™ Part II (see The Secrets of the Back to the Future™ Trilogy VHS special) his knowledge of this information could be extremely dangerous to Doc & Marty.
- Doc has obviously decided not to live out the rest of his life in the late 1800's. Sometime between October 27, 1985 and May 2, 1991 Doc, Einstein, and presumably the rest of the family returned to present day Hill Valley. Doc founded the Institute Of Future Technology and invented a plethora of new creations. Doc's return to present day is evident both in Back to the Future™...The Ride and the live-action sequences of Back to the Future™ - The Animated Series.
- Doc has built at least one new DeLorean, if not two. In Back to the Future™...The Ride, Biff steals what appears to be the same DeLorean that was destroyed at the end of Back to the Future™ Part III. Doc either builds an exact duplicate, or he finds a way to recover it before it is destroyed, which would change the ending of Back to the Future™ Part III. If it is the same car, the flying circuits have been repaired or replaced. The other DeLorean is the eight-passenger convertible DeLorean that can be piloted by remote-control by Doc.
- Much damage has now been wreaked upon Hill Valley. Griff and his gang shattered the glass in the front of the clock tower courthouse mall in the beginning of Back to the Future™ Part II. However, three days later in Back to the Future™...The Ride, this damage has already been repaired. Then, in the early morning of October 25, 2015, the eight-passenger DeLorean crashes through a couple of signs, including Texaco's sign, and completely destroys the clock dial in the clock tower. In Back to the Future™ Part II, we see that the clock was still inoperable on October 21, 2015, and Terry is campaigning to collect money for its repair. Right before the eight-passenger DeLorean hits the clock three and a half days later, we find that the clock is now operational and displays the correct time of 3:44 AM (the actual time on October 25, 2015 according to the time circuits inside the eight-passenger DeLorean). Terry and the rest of the Hill Valley Restoration Society will be extremely upset that all their hard work was for nothing! Any time traveling to 2015 shortly following this date must reflect the damage to the signs and the clock tower.
- The ledge in front of the clock was also repaired in the short time span between October 21 and October 25, 2015. Doc broke the ledge in 1955 in the first movie when he was trying to retrieve the cable harness at the top of the clock tower. If the clock tower is ever shown again after October 25, 2015, it cannot reflect a broken ledge since it has now been repaired.
- Jaws 19 is still playing at the Holomax. Any time travel done between present day and October 25, 2015 can show other Jaws sequels between Jaws IV and Jaws 19 being advertised on posters or television. There are fifteen sequels that must be made in the next two decades!
Several of these items may seem to be picky little details, but in Back to the Future™, these little details can really add up! Significant details that aren't easily detected the first few viewings is where a lot of the fun lies in this series. Dates, times, locations, people, clothing, and personal property items are all of the essence in this series, as you never know when you may be re-introduced to any number of these later on in the series.
|
